81Tim Patrick WR

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Broncos' Tim Patrick: Targeted four times in loss

by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

Patrick caught one of four targets for 17 yards during Sunday's 19-17 loss to Houston.

The departure of Demaryius Thomas didn't pay huge dividends for Patrick as Denver focused targets on Jeff Heuerman, Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton. Patrick still seems like somebody who -- at 6-foot-5 -- could be a dangerous red-zone target. His role should shake out better after the bye when fans will learn whether he or rookie DaeSean Hamilton settles into the No. 3 receiver role.

Patrick appears likely to earn regular snaps in the Broncos' three-receiver sets Sunday against the Texans with DaeSean Hamilton (knee) ruled out for the contest, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports.

For at least one game, Patrick looks set to climb two spots on the depth chart, as the Broncos' decision to rule out Hamilton was preceded by the team dealing Demaryius Thomas to Houston on Tuesday. Those absences leave only Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton as the team's starting receivers, though Patrick should get plenty of work on obvious passing downs when fullback Andy Janovich is off the field. Patrick likely won't be a major priority in the passing game whenever he's on the field, but the increased opportunity he'll have in Week 9 is worth noting nonetheless.

Patrick caught a 24-yard touchdown on his only targeted and added a 13-yard run during Sunday's 30-23 loss in Kansas City.

Patrick capped off the Broncos' 75-yard, 49-second touchdown drive to end the first half, slipping behind the secondary for a wide-open touchdown. Following an impressive preseason, Patrick has been relegated primarily to special-teams duties this season. That might change with Demaryius Thomas now in Houston. One can easily picture a three-wide-receiver set in which Patrick and rookie Courtland Sutton are on the outside and veteran Emmanuel Sanders is in the slot. Next up is a Sunday showdown with a solid Houston pass defense.

Patrick is an early favorite for the No. 5 job in Denver, Benjamin Allbright of 104.7 FM Denver reports.

Denver seems pretty set with its four primary targets -- veterans Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas and rookies Courtland Sutton and DeSean Hamilton. Patrick, a second-year target out of Utah, is a bit of a surprise as a depth option, especially with 2017 draft picks still on the roster. Head coach Vance Joseph has said that backup receivers will need to be special-teams aces, something Patrick is capable of doing. Should he make the team, he would provide Case Keenum with yet another big-bodied option.

The Broncos signed Patrick to a reserve/future contract Tuesday, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.

Patrick didn't see any NFL action during his rookie season after going undrafted out of Utah in April. He spent much of the campaign as a member of the Broncos' practice squad, with Patrick's performance apparently impressing the team's brass enough to keep him a part of their offseason program heading into the 2018 campaign.